The Courage of Children: Boston and Beyond XXXIII

EVAN OSTAPCHUK
MICHAEL ANDREWS, TEACHER
Barnstable Intermediate School, Barnstable, MA
It’s dangerous to have cystic fibrosis, but I will not let it control my life or the
things that I do. Cystic fibrosis causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the
lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body. It’s dangerous, and some kids
stay in the hospital because their CF is worse than mine. One thing about CF is
I have to do treatments to make my lungs stronger, but I am grateful that I do
not have to live at the hospital. Some people in my school want to learn about
CF. People ask me what it’s like having CF, and I tell them: some are not good
cases and some are not bad cases, but it could be dangerous to have, because if
two people with CF are in the same room, one of them could get very sick and
die. Having cystic fibrosis takes courage. You have to push through every time
when things are difficult.
“HAVING CYSTIC
FIBROSIS TAKES
COURAGE. YOU
HAVE TO PUSH
THROUGH EVERY
TIME WHEN THINGS
ARE DIFFICULT.”
I will power through when I get sick or get surgery. If I have a bad day, my
friends and my family put a smile on my face and give me the courage to make
me feel good about myself. This is how I deal with my cystic fibrosis every day.
I was six years old when the doctor told my mother and father that I had CF.
I was sick a lot, and my mother and father didn’t know what was wrong. As
I got older, my doctor explained to me that I wouldn’t be able to play football
and other sports that could cause me to get hurt. I was sick and had to miss
many days of school so that I could get better. It was difficult for me to catch
up on all of the tests and quizzes that I missed.
Sometimes I felt angry at myself because I was different and could not do the
same things that other kids could do. I missed a lot of school. I had tutoring
in the summer, but I did all my extra work so I could get better at reading
and math.
I always have to go to Boston Children’s Hospital, where I see Dr. Perkins; he
tells me that I’m the same as other kids. That gives me courage to do different
activities. I do motocross, and it gives me a lot of pride that I am a kid with
cystic fibrosis racing in this sport.
I love doing motocross. Every time I go to the track with my dad, I always have
to take a puff of my inhaler before going onto the track. If I don’t take a puff
before, I will run out of breath and will be tired and hot from my gear that I
wear. Even though I put my body through a lot, I do it for fun, and I won’t let
my CF control me.
I have to live with CF for my whole life. It upsets me that there are some
activities I can’t do, but the best thing is that my doctors are working toward a
cure. When I get cured, that’s going to make me so happy, grateful, and joyful.
THE COURAGE OF CHILDREN: BOSTON AND BEYOND
VOLUME XXXIII
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